21 hours ago
Leapfrogging development through text-enabled citizen-centric governance
Indian Prime Minister Narendra and his country are committed to sharing their experience and expertise with their global partners on using technology for governance and growth.
Image: EPA-EFE/HEIN HTET
At the 2nd Voice of the Global South Summit hosted virtually by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 17th November 2023, one key focus area was on 'Sustain the momentum of exchange and sharing of ideas and best practices between member countries…'
At the 3rd Summit also hosted by the Indian PM on 17th August 2024, there was a focus on '…challenges of new technologies and need for South-South Cooperation co-operation for technology transfers…'.
Of the four-fold Global Compact put forward by PM Modi, one is on technology sharing. Thus, it is clear that as a responsible voice of the Global South, India is willing to share its knowledge and expertise acquired in governance and other fields, which accelerate development, and is also keen to learn from other nations.
India's journey in leapfrogging development through tech-enabled citizen-centric governance has been nothing short of transformative. Key milestones in India's digital governance experience have been:
Digital India Initiative - the flagship programme of the Government of India, launched in 2015, with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy;
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Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) – platforms like Aadhaar (over one billion citizens with a unique digital identity), UPI (with over 18 billion transactions in June 2025), DigiLocker (eliminating the need for physical documents), and e-Sign, have revolutionised service delivery;
Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) – India became the first country to use DBT at scale, reducing corruption and ensuring the timely delivery of welfare benefits; and
AI Integration in Governance – from grievance redressal systems to predictive analytics in healthcare and agriculture, AI is helping tailor services to citizen needs.
Institutional support and strategic vision to India's Digital Governance is provided by the Digital India Corporation (DIC), under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the National Institute of Smart Governance (NISG) and a Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM).
The DIC is responsible for establishing the National e-Governance in Accountability, Efficiency, Efficacy and Transparency, to promote digital literacy, accessibility, and inclusion, to develop and empower skilled manpower, to guide ministries/departments in enhancing accessibility and efficiency in public service delivery, and to support the MeitY in all its endeavours.
The NIC integrates emerging technologies like AI, blockchain and data analytics into governance frameworks.
The NISG acts as a strategic partner in implementing digital transformation across central ministries and states, including international collaboration with Global South nations.
DBIM standardises government websites and applications for a unified citizen-friendly experience.
Impact on Governance and Society
In terms of Transparency and Accountability, E-governance platforms have reduced bureaucratic opacity and increased public trust.
In terms of Efficiency and Accessibility, public services are now available 24/7, with reduced paperwork and faster processing times.
In terms of Inclusivity, AI-driven tools and multilingual platforms ensure services reach marginal communities.
In terms of environmental benefits, the digital processes have led to paperless offices and reduced carbon footprints.
